Even while the Red Cross adapts to meet the changing needs of the people we serve, we always stay true to those roots. Are you familiar with the classic images of Red Cross nurses helping American soldiers and civilian war victims during World War I? In fact, as you read this Red Cross staff and volunteers are still deploying alongside America’s military. Maybe you’ve taken a class through the Red Cross, such as first aid certification or how to swim. Did you know we’ve been offering similar training since the early 1900s? Have you ever given blood or received donated blood? The Red Cross developed the first nationwide civilian blood program in the 1940s and we still provide more than 40% of the blood products in this country.

Today, as throughout our long history, the Red Cross depends on generous contributions of time, blood, and money from the American public to support our lifesaving services and programs. We invite you to learn about our history and hope you will feel inspired to become more involved with the Red Cross.

Answering the Call

Come Visit Our New Exhibit Commemorating World War I at National Headquarters

World War I was a time of phenomenal growth for the Red Cross ultimately helping to define and create the organization we know today. To commemorate this event, a new exhibit, entitled Answering the Call, the American Red Cross in World War I, is on view at the historic Red Cross National Headquarters building in Washington, DC.

Featuring photography, artifacts, and personal stories, the exhibit details the growth of volunteer opportunities, chapter expansion, fundraising, and the development of Red Cross nursing in support of the U.S. military and humanitarian relief to impacted civilians well into the early 1920s. Reservations for tours on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10am and 2pm can be scheduled by emailing tours@redcross.org.

A highlight of many tours of our National Headquarters is the beautiful set of windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany, donated to the Red Cross by the Women’s Relief Corps of the North and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Learn More.

Please be aware that this is a working office building and, due to meetings, some spaces in the building may not be available for viewing.

Schedule a Tour

Come see our historic treasures! Free, guided tours of the National Headquarters at 430 17th Street, NW, in Washington DC are offered Wednesdays and Fridays 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. by reservation only. Limited to 15 guests per tour.

Answering the Call

Come Visit Our New Exhibit Commemorating World War I at National Headquarters

World War I was a time of phenomenal growth for the Red Cross ultimately helping to define and create the organization we know today. To commemorate this event, a new exhibit, entitled Answering the Call, the American Red Cross in World War I, is on view at the historic Red Cross National Headquarters building in Washington, DC.

Featuring photography, artifacts, and personal stories, the exhibit details the growth of volunteer opportunities, chapter expansion, fundraising, and the development of Red Cross nursing in support of the U.S. military and humanitarian relief to impacted civilians well into the early 1920s. Reservations for tours on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10am and 2pm can be scheduled by emailing tours@redcross.org.

A highlight of many tours of our National Headquarters is the beautiful set of windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany, donated to the Red Cross by the Women’s Relief Corps of the North and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Learn More.

Please be aware that this is a working office building and, due to meetings, some spaces in the building may not be available for viewing.

How We Grew

Get to know some of the people and milestones that built the Red Cross.

"The Red Cross…has often seemed to be the friendly hand of this nation, reaching across the sea to sustain its fighting men. "

- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Address to Congress, June 18, 1945

Partnership with America's Military Members

From the Spanish-American War to the recent conflicts in the Middle East, the Red Cross has served alongside America’s military personnel and cared for veterans and families back home.

World War I

World War II

Korea

Vietnam

8 Million Volunteers at Home and Overseas

When the United States declared war on Germany, the American Red Cross was tasked with aiding American servicemen in Europe. In addition to mobilizing more than 20,000 nurses and building 54 hospitals overseas, the Red Cross provided a way for patriotic men, women and children back home to contribute to war relief. By the end of the war, nearly one-third of all Americans had donated in support of the Red Cross effort or were serving as volunteers.

A Red Cross nurse in a field hospital in France ensures her patient has clean bandages.

Supporting 16 Million Military Personnel

The Red Cross mobilized in support of the U.S. military, our Allies and civilian victims of World War II. We enrolled more than 104,000 nurses for military service, prepared 27 million packages for prisoners of war, shipped more than 300,000 tons of supplies, and collected 13.3 million pints of blood for the armed forces. In nearly every American family, someone was a Red Cross volunteer, donor or blood donor, or received Red Cross services.

The Red Cross collected millions of pints of blood for the armed forces.

126,000 Volunteers Every Month

During the Korean Conflict, Red Cross services grew. The blood program for the military was expanded. The emergency mobile recreation service served all United Nations forces. Red Cross provided emergency communications from family members and facilitated calls and letters home from wounded service members. Following the 1953 armistice, the American and Korean Red Cross societies ensured the transfer of nearly 90,000 prisoners of war.

Serving 280,000 Servicemen a Month

Between 1965 and 1972, American Red Cross field directors, hospital personnel and recreation workers (“Donut Dollies”) served on military bases and in military hospitals and hospital ships throughout Southeast Asia. The Red Cross provided recreation activities for service members while facilitating more than 2 million emergency communications between service members and their families.

A “Donut Dollie” offers coffee to soldiers taking a break from the fighting.

World War I

8 Million Volunteers at Home and Overseas

When the United States declared war on Germany, the American Red Cross was tasked with aiding American servicemen in Europe. In addition to mobilizing more than 20,000 nurses and building 54 hospitals overseas, the Red Cross provided a way for patriotic men, women and children back home to contribute to war relief. By the end of the war, nearly one-third of all Americans had donated in support of the Red Cross effort or were serving as volunteers.

A Red Cross nurse in a field hospital in France ensures her patient has clean bandages.

World War II

Supporting 16 Million Military Personnel

The Red Cross mobilized in support of the U.S. military, our Allies and civilian victims of World War II. We enrolled more than 104,000 nurses for military service, prepared 27 million packages for prisoners of war, shipped more than 300,000 tons of supplies, and collected 13.3 million pints of blood for the armed forces. In nearly every American family, someone was a Red Cross volunteer, donor or blood donor, or received Red Cross services.

The Red Cross collected millions of pints of blood for the armed forces.

Korea

126,000 Volunteers Every Month

During the Korean Conflict, Red Cross services grew. The blood program for the military was expanded. The emergency mobile recreation service served all United Nations forces. Red Cross provided emergency communications from family members and facilitated calls and letters home from wounded service members. Following the 1953 armistice, the American and Korean Red Cross societies ensured the transfer of nearly 90,000 prisoners of war.

Serving 280,000 Servicemen a Month

Between 1965 and 1972, American Red Cross field directors, hospital personnel and recreation workers (“Donut Dollies”) served on military bases and in military hospitals and hospital ships throughout Southeast Asia. The Red Cross provided recreation activities for service members while facilitating more than 2 million emergency communications between service members and their families.